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| After northern areas of PoK, Neelum valley up in arms against PoK government | | |
Early Times Reporter
Jammu | March 20
After the northern areas in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK) administered centrally by the government of Pakistan reeling under deep unrest over denial of any democratic rights to them and oppression let loose by the federal government, it is the turn of Neelum valley in PoK to be up in arm against the ruling establishment in the state, installed and supported by the federal government of Pakistan.
Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in Neelum valley on Monday March 17, threatening to launch a "violent agitation" if the problems confronting their area were not addressed by the concerned authorities at the earliest. The demonstration was held under the aegis, of 'Neelum Awami Mahaz' (NAM)-an alliance of local chapters of almost all political, religious and social organizations-in Athmuqam, some 80 kilometres northeast of here.
Neelum valley was segregated from district Muzaffarabad in June 2005 and given the status of a separate administrative unit, with Athmuqam as its headquarters. Stretched over a long strip of nearly 200 kilometres, the whole district however makes up only one constituency of the Legislative Assembly of Pak occupied J&K which currently is represented by Mian Abdul Waheed of opposition Peoples Party.
The demonstrators marched through the Athmuqam bazaar, chanting vociferous slogan in favour of their demands and against the government, and later held a big public meeting in the town's bus stand. Shops remained closed during the demonstration as a manifestation of support to the popular public demands, witnesses said. Earlier, dozens of people from the upper belt of Neelum valley, led by NAM convener Pir Mazhar Shah, also arrived in Athmuqam in a vehicular caravan to participate in the demonstration.
At the public meeting, one after the other speaker asked the government to start construction of the road running through their areas as early as possible and lift the ban on the operations of cellular phone companies in the area. They pointed out a host of problems, including dilapidated health and educational facilities, power crisis, which their area faced but lamented that no tangible action on the part of the authorities to address them seemed in sight.
In his speech, Waheed alleged that instead of launching development projects to pacify the valley residents, the government had changed the design of Neelum Valley Hihway, reducing its width from initially proposed 24 to 12 feet.
Referring to 'lack of adequate telecom facilities in the valley in the name of security reasons,' he questioned that the Neelum valley alone was not in the proximity of the Line of Control which had been a basis for denial of latest telecom facilities to its people. "This line runs through other areas as well and I warn the authorities not to drive the people of Neelum valley towards some uprising," he said. Waheed said the valley had been contributing to the state exchequer in many ways but, ironically, its residents were kept deprived of even the basic amenities of life.
People of the valley, he recalled had braved relentless Indian shelling for 14 long years and rendered unprecedented physical and material sacrifices for the sake of defence of their compatriots. But in return they were being meted out a step motherly treatment, he added.
According to him, the problems of the valley had been raised at different forums, including the assembly, but to no avail which had forced its people to come on roads.
"If the government fails to take practical steps for resolution of our problems, we would be left with no choice but to launch a violence agitation and in the first stage extraction of timber and other precious mineral resources from here would be stopped," he threatened, as people raised their hands as a mark of endorsement. "The government would itself be responsible for the ensuing situation," he added.
Earlier, former minster and Muslim Conference leader Mufti Mansoor ur Rehman also criticized the authorities for "pushing the Neelum valley to the wall." "The valley residents are determined to get their rights and will leave no stone unturned in this regard, come what may," he said.
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